Box office The film didn't perform well at the box office due to its widest release in very few theaters, earning $47,812 in domestic theaters and $26,036 from foreign theaters. The film grossed $73,848 worldwide.
Critical reception ''Love N' Dancing'' received mostly negative reviews from the critics. On
review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 17% based on twelve reviews, with an average rating of 3.3/10. On
Metacritic, the film has a
weighted average score of 43 out of 100, based on four critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. Peter Debruge of
Variety wrote that: "Malloy's chemistry-killing additions to the proven formula push the experience toward mawkishness when the otherwise by-the-numbers pic means to be inspirational, limiting interest in this low-budget indie to the apologetically sincere or ironically inclined."
Paste contributor Sean Gandert criticized the "impossibly lazy and clichéd" story and Iscove for putting more focus on shooting the "admittedly alluring dance sequences" than constructing something "perfunctory" for the rest of the film, concluding that "a few pretty dances aren't enough substance to make for a fulfilling, or even moderately entertaining movie when the rest of the material is so weak." Chuck Wilson of
LA Weekly commended Smart for bringing a spark to this "amiably dull dance drama" and the "terrific numbers" but criticized Iscove for keeping a "coolly professional distance" from the dancers and diminishing their chemistry. Robert Abele of the
Los Angeles Times wrote that despite Smart and Malloy's character arcs and the "nicely done twirl-and-dip sections" by Robert Royston, he felt it was "pretty unremarkable stuff", concluding that "with by-the-numbers characters and a woefully predictable script, you'll mostly be tapping your feet as a waiting measure for the next time "Love N' Dancing" needs two people to step out on the floor." In a 2019 retrospective review, Janelle Tipton of
Backstage commended Smart and Malloy's "charm and chemistry" for going through "contrived plot points and clunky obligatory dialogue for believability", the supporting performances of Zane and Rhea, and Iscove's filmmaking showing restraint in doing "flashy camerawork" with the dance scenes, concluding that: "''Love N' Dancing'' tries for offbeat and thus generates moments of unexpected humor, but it doesn't have quite enough quirk to work. Nor is the terpsichorean talent enough to recommend it." Amy Smart was nominated for Choice Movie Actress: Music/Dance at the
2009 Teen Choice Awards for her work in the film, but ultimately lost to
Miley Cyrus for
Hannah Montana: The Movie. ==References==